Illuminated sign



Dec. 24, 1929.

E. O. TILBE ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Nov. 20. 1928 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 Y UNITED STATES EVERETTE O. TILBE, 0F ONTARIG, CALIFORNIA ILLUMINATED SGN Application filed November 20, 1928.

My invention relates to an illuminated sign, and has for its principal obj ect the provision of a relatively simple, practical and attractive sign that is mounted on a suitable base or support so as to slowly rotate, therebybringing into view the illuminated advertising panels that form the walls and top of the body of the sign.

Further objects of my invention are to provide an illuminated advertising sign that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and which may be operated at minimum expense.

A further object of my invention is to provide anilluminated advertising sign of the character referred to that is equipped with relatively simple and practical driving means including a small electric motor, and further to arrange within the housing that is composed of transparent Walls or panels an electric lamp, preferably of the intermittent or flashing type that illuminates the interior of the housing so as to render visible the advertising matter that is carried by the transparent panels or walls.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illuminated advertising sign embodying the princiles of m invention. P y

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the center of the sign.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

F ig. i is an elevational view of a modified form of the sign and which is particularly designed for use on the exterior of a building or like structure.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a base, preferably a cast metal plate or block, and rigidly fixed thereto is the lower end of a vertically disposed tubular post or upright 11, that serves as a support for the housing or Serial N0. 320,646.

body of the sign and the operating mechanism therefor.

lThe body of the sign is substantially square and comprises a bottom plate 12, and pro'ecting upwardly from the corners thereof are posts 13 that are' substantially L-shaped in cross section. The upper ends of these corner posts are united by top rails 14.

Secured on the inner faces of the corner posts 18, and spaced apart therefrom, are parallel flanges 15, and the spaces between these Fianges and posts are occupied by the edges of the transparent walls of the sign. Each wall consists of inner and outer sections 1G of thin transparent material such as celluloid, and arranged between these inner and outer sections is a sheet 17 of paper or cardboard upon which is printed or painted advertising matter.

The top of the rectangular body of the sign is normally closed by a pyramid-shaped frame 18, the walls of which are provided with transparent panels 19 on which is printed or painted advertising matter. Depending from the lower edges of this frame are anges 20 that Overlie the rails 14 at the top of the rectangular body of the sign.

Fixed in any suitable manner to the intermediate portions of the corner posts 13 are the outer ends of a frame or spider 21, the central portion of which is provided with a bearing 22 that encircles the upper portion of the post 11, and arranged between said bearing and postis a suitable antifriction bearing 23. Formed integral with, or fixed to the spider is a ring 24, provided on its under face with a circular rack 25, composed of gear teeth.

Fixed in any suitable manner to the post 11 below the spider and above the bottom of the housing is a frame 26 upon which is mounted a small electric motor 27, and carried by the motor shaft is apinion 28 that meshes with a gear wheel 29, and the latter having engagement with the circular rack 525.

Gear wheel 29 is mounted` for rotation upon the upper portion of frame 26.

Seated in the upper end of post 11, is a socket 30 for an electric lamp 3l, and which latter may be of the continuous burning type or ofthe type that burns or flashes intermittently. Electric conductors 32 lead from a suitable source of supply through base 10, thence upwardly through post 11 to the motor and to the electric lamp.

In the operation of my improved illuminated sign the pinion 28 carried by the motor shaft imparts motion to gear Wheel 29 and the latter engaging with the teeth of the circular rack 25 imparts comparatively slow rotary movement to the housing to which the frame of spider 21 is connected, and as said housing slowly rotates its advertising panels are successively brought into view and which panels are illuminated by the lamp 31 that is carried by the upper end of the post 11.

To gain access to the interior of the housing for the purpose of adjustment or repair of the mechanism therein, the pyramid-shaped frame 18 may be readily removed and to remove the advertising panels that forni the walls of the housing it is only necessary to draw said panels upwardly from their noi'- mal positions between the corner posts 13 and flanges 15.

The form of illuminated advertising sign just described is especially adapted for use in a show-window or upon a counter or suitable support within a store-room or place of business, and where this invention is utilized in a sign that is mounted on the outside of a building I prefer to utilize an elongated housing, as illustrated in Fig. 4 and to ar- -range the motor and driving mechanism within a comparatively small housing 33 that is located below the illuminated housing. The housing 33 and the upper end of the illuminated housing may be supported in any suitable manner on the side of a building by suitably located supports, such as 34:.

Thus it will be seen that I have providedi an illuminated advertising sign that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and operation, and which is very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changesk ous parts of my improved illuminated signl may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. In an illuminated advertising sign, a post, a spider mounted for rotation on the upper portion of said post, a housing carried by said spider and provided with transparent walls, a ring forming a part of said spider, rack teeth depending from said ring, a motor arranged within the housing and supported upon said post, and driving connections'from said motor to the rack teeth on said ring.

2. In an illuminated advertising sign, a post, al spider mounted for rotation on the 

